29 / 48
2. His schedule. Like many paramedics, he
is on call 24 hours a day for about 11
or 12 days a month. That packs a lot of
action into fewer days, leaving him more
time to spend with his son.
The worst things about this job are the lack
of sleep when he is on the job, and often, he said,
“you see the worst in people.”
One more thing, though, makes his job one
that he loves. “You get to drive the ambulance,
and run the lights and sirens and drive fast. That’s
exciting for sure.”
29
Text-Dependent Questions
1. What percentage of American EMTs and paramedics are women?
2. What is the hardest thing for a paramedic to do, according to Davis?
3. Name one thing that paramedics might learn from taking additional classes.
Research Project
Check your local newspaper or local-news website. Find three stories about
how paramedics were called to the scene of an accident or a natural disas-
ter. See if you can find out exactly what they did to help the victims.